Machine for shucking oysters.



No. 848,784. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. E. TOR$OH & J. H. PARKER. MACHINE FOR SHUGKING OYSTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23.1905. I

4 SHEETSSHBET 1.

l x I \Zv maze form No 848,784. 8 PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. E. L. TORSOH & J. H. PARKER.

MACHINE FOR SHUGKING OYSTBRS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 18058 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 848,784. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. E. L. TORSOH & J. H. PARKER. MACHINE FOR SHUCKING OYSTERS.

APPLICATION FILED 3111.23. 1905.

4-SHEETSSHEET 3.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 L nn/animus 5.

PATENTED APR. 2 E. L. TORSGH &: J. H. PARKER. MACHINE FOR SHUGKING OYSTERS'.

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EEIBTI APPLIGATION FILED JAN.23. 1905.

'5 that the hinges of the oysters Wlll all move 111 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. TORSCH AND JOHN MACHINE FOR Specification of Letters Patent.-

Application filed, January 28, 1905. Serial H0- 242385.

H. PARKER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHUCKING' OYSTERS.

Patented April 2, i907- opening oysters, and more particularly for automatically shucking oysters by operating on the hinged ends of the same,

The object of the invention is to provide rapidity in the separating of the meatsfrom the shells and to provide maximum simplicity of movements for performing the various steps from the beginning to the end of the operation. I I I The machine for carrying out the invention consists, in a general way, without regard to the various scopes of novelty which are attended to in the claims, of a rotating 'wheel, oyster-gri pers arranged aroundthe periphery thereo a feeding device opposite the periphery and so timed as to meet one of the gri pers when opposite the same, a tongue or pressing against an oyster tendln to drive it out of the grippers, a stop beyon the feeding device for limiting the action of the tongue upon the oyster m such a manner the same circular line, an arrangement for opening the grippers when opposite the feeding device and for closing them before they leave said stop, inding-disks located beyond the stop and more and more intersecting the path traveled by said hinges for cutting holes into the oysters and destroying the hinges, fingers adapted to enter said holes, means for separating said fingers to pull the shells apart, extensible blades for entering the holes to cut the oysters from the shells, and a driver connected up with all of the above-named elements to constitute an automatic machine.

In order to have a more detailed prelimi nary statement of the or anization, we will give the following speci c definition: The

- machine involves a rotating wheel, open oyster-grip ers on the peri hery thereof e ually spaced}; feeding devic d opposite one )f the gri pers at a time for pushin oysters into sai grippers and consisting o a reciprocating lever timed to meet the gri pers successively, a cam-and-roller device or maintainingsaid grippers open during feedin and for said oysters, so that the latter will protrude device being adapte to close the grippers roller device consisting of a stationary double cam formlng a groove, as many pivots as there are grlp ers proj eating-from sa1d wheel, levers pivote to the respective pivots, a roller for the jaws of the grippers, holders for said cranks, in-and-slot joints between said levers an saidholders, said stationary cam being formed endless around'the center of said element, arc-shaped around said center for a certaindistance therefrom for actin upon said rollers toholdsaid rippers close for awhile, then curved inwardly toward the center, then arc-shaped again at a less distance from said center than before to act upon said cams for maintaining said rippers open, and finally curved outwar from said center for acting upon saidro lers to close said grippers.

The machine consists, further, of cutters for making holes in the shells at the hinges thereof, a pair of pivoted fingers for each gripper, with its pivots so disposed that the ends of the fingers can be brought toward each-other and into the holes in the oystergers being controlled by the respective rollers, airs of blades, pro ellers for driving said bla es into said holes or severing the meats of the oysters, means for operating said blades and consisting of a third cam, rollers therefor for operating one set of members of the pairs of blades, and other rollers for o crating the other blades and dropping t e ing the shells at a point, of rotation of the wheel beyond that at which the meats were dropped.

before they leave said stop,.said cam-and-' awhile afterward, tongues within t e grippers for pressing the o stersoutward, a st'a-. tlonary stop to reslstt e outward motion of equally from the grip ers, the cam-and-roller on each lever running in said groove, cranks shells, means for separating the fingers for' rco' , 5 meats and for further opening said grippers after the delivery of the meats for d1scharg Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine, illustratin the same in operation, certain posterior e ements being omitted for preventing confusion and certain anterior parts being broken away to exhibit parts otherwise hidden. In all the figures dotted lines represent hidden parts. Some elements are shown in section vertically in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a left-hand side elevation in that phase in which an oyster is being introduced. This figure is not intended to represent all the mechanism, but especially certain driving elements and guides from the left-hand side. Fig. 3 is a right-hand side elevation with parts broken away and in the operating phase, two oysters being shown as going through the process. For better illustrating the invention certain parts are omitted. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side and plan of the gripping-jaws while open, together with the cooperating elements for closing and opening the jaws and a few dependent elements. Fig. 5* is a view of one of the disks and associated parts which are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 6 1s a central sectional view, partly not sectioned, of the means for se arating the meat of the oyster from the she ls of the ovster in that phase in which the separatingfingers are entering between the shells. Fig. 7 is a crosssection at the line A B. (See Fig. 6.) Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of one of the cams invol'ved'in the machine.

We will first describe the means for feeding oysters to the machine. It consists of a pusher-lever 1, pivoted at its lower end by a pivot 2 in aforked bearing 3 on the base-plate 4 and having a notch 5 at its upper end, upon the lower surface of which one edge of an oyster 6 may rest, the hinge of the oystershells resting against the vertical surface of said notch, the opposite end of the oyster pointing toward the center of the machine. The oyster is to be placed in this position by hand; but this act constitutes the only manual operation needed, the function therefore of the pusher-lever 1 being to force the whole oyster into certain jaws described later herein. The means for operating the pusher-rod 1 consists of a constantly-rotating gear-wheel 7 on the main shaft 8 and keyed thereto and gearing with a-pinion 9, carrying a crank 10, which in turn is pivoted to a connecting-rod 11 for communicating reciprocatingmotion from the pinion 9 to the lever 1, which latter has a post 12 extending laterally therefrom for connecting'with the rod 11. The contin ual rotation of the wheel 7 moves the lever 1 back and-forth at suitableintervals, based in length upon the speed with which an operator may place oysters in position in the notch 5. A guiding-bracket 13 at the sides of the lower portion of the oyster facilitates the positioning of the oyster by the operator.

The next step consists in the reception of the oyster by the machine the gripping of the oyster, and some subordinate steps, the construction for which and the operation thereof being next in order in this description. To assist in explaining the mechanisms, we will relate the general functions first. The machine automatically grips the oyster with the hinge thereof at a fixed radial distance from the main shaft whatsoever is the size of the oyster or other bivalve. Oysters may be promiscuously fed into the machine; but the hinge of each is always at the same distance from the center of the machine. Any number of gripper-jaws are provided, according to the capacity of the machine desired. Twelve pairs are used in themachine shown, the first pair being 14 and 15, the next pair 1 6 and 17, the next 18 and 19, the next 20 and 21, the next 22 and 23, the next 24 and 25, the next 26 and 27, the next 28 and 29, the next visible ones being 36 and 37. All the jaws are mounted successively upon the periphery of a wheel 38, which is keyed to the main shaft 8, having a driven gear-wheel 39, connected up with driving-pulleys 40 through intermediate gears and pinions 41, 42, and 43, which need not be more minutely described, because not involved in the novelty of the invention, being common in most automatic machines. There is a relation between the number of pairs of jaws and the number of reciprocations of the pusher-lever 1-namely, the latter must act twelve times at equal intervals to one rotation of the wheel 38. Consequently an oyster will be fed exactly on time to each pair of jaws in succession; but no trouble will follow if one or more pairs pass the-lever 1 without being fed with an oyster.

The machine so operates, as will hereinafter be described, that the jaws 14 and 15 opposite the feeding device are fully opened suffi ciently wide to receive the largest possible bivalve to be operated upon. Each, jaw throughout isV-shaped, and the VS in each pair face each other for more nearlyaccom- 'modating the outline of an oyster. Grippingsprings 44 project like teeth from the inner surfaces of the jaws and pointing toward each other for receiving oysters. The jaws are fixed to slides 45, which in turn are loosely mounted upon parallel rods 46, whose supports are 47. The slides 45 are movable to and from each other on the rods 46. The means for producing this motion consists of a bell-crank 48 for each slide, the pivots for the cranks being at 49, forming the fulcrums about which said cranks may turn. There is a tube 50 movable to and from the jaws and provided indirectly with arms 5 l ,which are respectively pivoted to those armsof the cranks 48 that are not pivoted to said slides 54.

52 represents a compensating spring for assisting in the movements of the jaws. The cam is represented at 53, having two guidingsurfaces and belonging to a plate 54, which is stationary, by being mounted upon the general frame 55 of the machine as a whole. The roller for this cam is 56, carried by a lever whose one arm is 57 for the roller 56 and whose other arm is 58, which is slotted at the 5 outer end for operating a pin 59 upon a collar 60, which is screwed fast to the tube 50. The pivot 61 forming the fulcrum for the camlever, travels around with all the jaws and is therefore carried by the main wheel 38.

. r We have described the construction of one pair of jawsand its adjuncts; but the ex lanation applies to all pairs, as theyare dup icates the one of the other.

The earn 53 is of such a contour that at the r position of a pair of jaws for receiving an oyster the latter' rests b its 'own weight upon the lower jaw an is carried upward by this moving jaw before the oyster'is gripp There is a curved stop-plate 62, having an areshaped' surface whose center is the center of the shaft 8 and which is held by brackets 63 upon the frame 55 for remaining stationary, and the-curved surface of this plate is a continuation as nearly as possible of the vertical 2 5 surface 5 on the pusher-rod 1. As the jaw 15 travels around the oyster 6 is forced b a disk 64 first against the surface 5 and t en a ainst 'the-stop-plate 62, the function of i w 'ch is to insure the outer end of the oyster to be at a redetermined fixed distance from the axis 0 the shaft 8 whatever the general dimensions of the oyster. The disk 64 is on the end of a rod 65, which-is provided with a regulating-spring 66, the tube 50 containing the rod 65. The function of the disk 64 is therefore to adjust the oyster to a position for grinding the same before it-is gripped by the awsQ.

Vie now describe the operation of 'pping the oyster.' This is aclmmplishe by thev cam 53 and the cam-roller-56, which lat-. ter isactuated by the former *to operatefthe lever'57 58' to gradually pull the tube 50 in- .wardly toward the shaft 8, thereby turning the bell-cranks 48 and moving the slides 45 until they can move no farther on account-of the resistance offered by the oyster. Before the, oyster has left the plate 62 it hasbeen fully and tightly gripped, as shown by an advance oyster 6. The cam 53after the position represented by the oyster 6 is simply circular about the shaft 8, so that the jaws will not be opened till toward the end of the operation upon that particular oyster.

We will next describe the inding means and the operation thereof.

such disk 1n succession is nearer the shaft 8 than the preceding one for the p We now describe the construction e provide sue-.f; cessive grmding-disks 67 68 69 70 71 72,. arranged peripherally just beyond the jaws, which are just beyond the plate 62, and each ose of successive deeper grindings of the she at the hinge of the oyster, whereby a considerable hole is produced and the hinge destroyed by 65 the time the oyster has left'the last grindingdisk.. The disks are provided with drivingpulleys', respectively, 67 68 69, &c. These pulleys are driven In series or units of three each to avoid a multiplicity of belts, the belt 73 passing down through an opening in the frame 55, passing over an idler 74, thence over the pulley 67 back to an idler 7 5,which is adjustable for taking u slack bymeans of the bolt 76, movable in t e slot 77,then over the pulley 68, then an idler 78, then the pul- '7 5 ley 69', then an idler 79, and so out of themachine. The operation of this belt 7 3 causes the grinding-disks 67 68, 800., to spin in thedirection of the arrows indicated there on. A similar arrangement of belting, which need not be described, serves to spin the other grinding-disks also. The grinding-disks are upon spii1dles80, j ournaled in yokes 81-.

82 represents adjustable arms, one set of corresponding ends being pivoted to stationary brackets 83, the pivots being screws 84, which may betightened more or less. The other corresponding ends are linked to the spindles and rest upon adjustable screws 85, which'being turned will serve as stops for regulatin the distance of the grinding edges of the dis is 67 68, &c., at suitable successive distances from the shaft 8, said screws points ing radially outward. This regulation will serve not, only to com ensate for the wearing 5 away of the disks, ut for regulating the depth of abrasive actionupon the oysters and for adjusting the disks generall for different kinds of bivalves. The comp ete operation of this part of the invention is the running of the belt 73 and the belts for any more grinding-disks, the resultant spinning of the disks,

and the cutting away of the hinge of the oysters in rapid succession.

1o 5 adopted for the next step. The general nature of this part of. the organization comprises fingers and blades which automatically enter thegho'lejcut in each oyster and sever the ;muscles{ of the oyster from both shells,

meat of the oyster free to'fall out.

for example, '2-3.-which is a rear view of one aw-,1whichlisclosedQthe -o ster being held his and'the' opposite jaw 22. The which the action takes place is :1 the, grinding-disks 71 and. 7 2. -Iforc e -'is derived from the e justbeyond the disks, at 89, eurves' away from the shaft 8 radually'jlassumes'ga circular contour ahdut aid 'shaft'. EThe. roller for running in this; owed rried-by-an extension 92 of a slide cam is 90,-turning on the pin 91,

working in a fixed carrier 93, bolted to the main wheel 38 and supporting the finger 86, which is mounted upon a forked rod 97 by a pivot 98, passing through the tines of the fork. A part of the finger is formed with a toothed segment 99, the pivot 98 being at the center of the segment. The rod 97 has an interior stop-pin 100, pressed by the spring 101against the segment. The spring -box 102 being finally pivoted to the slide 92. and the rod 97 extending into the box 102 against the spring 103, which acts as a cushion for the rod 97 and allows further travel, the slide 92, together with the elements attached thereto, can be moved to and fro by the combined action of the cam 88 and roller 90. The

spring 103 continually presses against the lower end of the rod 97, which carries a pin 105, extending through a slot 106, out through the side of the tube 102. When the camroller 90 begins to move outwardly from the center of the shaft 8 at the point 89 on the cam 88 in Fig. 3, it carries the slide 92, the spring-box 102, and the finger 86 outwardly in a straight path until the toothed segment 99 meets a corresponding rack cut on 108,

with which it engages, a pin 100 is forced back out of a depression 100, and the finger 86 begins to describe a curved path toward the opening in the oyster, revolving upon its fulcrum-pin 98 in the direction shown by the arrow. A continued'outward motion of the cam-roller 90 brings the finger into thebpening in the oyster, and the parts described now occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 6. The arms 108 and 111, together with their hub 109, the inclined surface 110 on the arm 111, as shown in Fig. 6, are journaled upon the guide-rod 46. This is also apparent from the view in Fig. 1, but omitted from T ig. 2, hidden in Fig. 3, and omitted from Figs. 4 and 5. Figs. 4 and 5 are for the purpose of showing the grippers by themselves with asfew other adjuncts'as possible. The spring 112 is carried by the wheel 38 and presses against the arm 111 in the direction of the cam-point 1 13, which is carried upon the slide 92, while the incline 110 bears upon said campoint 113. A spring 107 is carried by the slide 92 and bears upon the pivoted tube 102 toward the guide-rod 46. A still further outward movement of the cam-roller 90 causes the cam-point 113 to travel along the incline 110, causing the arm 111 to swing away, moving on its fulcrum 46, and the arm 108 has correspondingly moved in an opposite direction, forcing the finger 86 backward from the oyster-opening, and as the finger 87 has described a similar movement in unison with 86 the mouth or opening in the oyster has been pulled apart by the action of the fingers on opposite sides. During this last art of the outward movement of the camroller 90 the finger 86 has not revolved any farther, as it rests on the end of the oyster and is prevented thereby from doing so, and the last part of the travel of the slide 92 has compressed the spring 103, the slide 97 has traveled down into the spring-box 102, and the pin 105 has traversed the slot 106. All of these parts now remain in a fixed position, while the knife or blade 119 enters the shell and separates the meat therefrom and the oyster is emptied from the shell, after which the cam-roller 9O meets the point 88 in the cam 88 and all these movements are reversed from the order in which they were described, the fingers first coming together, swinging out of and away from the shell, assuming a position radially outward from the center of the shaft 8, and withdrawing inwardly to- Ward said shaft, and assuming the position which they normally occupied before arriving at the point 89 in the cam 88.

We will now set forth the construction for and the operation of the means for separating the muscles of the oyster from the shells. The flexible knife 119 is fed out of the hollow finger 86 into the interior of the oyster for severing the meat from the shell. For this purpose a roller 120 is carried by the finger 86 and a cam 121 is provided for guiding said roller and for propelling it lengthwise of the finger. A pin 122 passes through a slot 123 on the up or ortion of the fin er 86 and connects sai ro ler 120 to the nife .119 and serves at the same time as a pivot for the roller 120. This earn 121 is formed upon an arc-shaped plate (shown at 124) with its center at the axis of the shaft 8 and mounted upon brackets 125 and 125, which may be shaped as shown in Fig. 2. Of course'the jaws 22 and 23 arrive at the plate 124 at the proper time for the knives 119 to enter the oyster. The roller 89, moving in an are about the shaft 8, maintains the pivot 98 at the right distance for the roller 120 to come into engagement with the cam 121 as soon as the jaws reach the said cam.

It now only remains to explain how the meats and the shells are dropped at different points during their circular travel. The falling out of the meat takes lace simply by automatically removing the nives, (the fingers 86 and 87 remain stationary, holding the shells apart-nearly onefourth of a revolution of shaft 8 takes place before the fingers release,) which will permit the loosened oyster-meat to drop out by gravity as soon as the main wheel 38 has rotated far enough to invert theoyster, whereby the end operated upon points downward. The opening is made its full size and large enough before the knives enter. The fingers are next removed because the roller 90 is moved by the cam 88 at the portion 88' toward the center of the shaft, thereby operating the gearing 99 similar means rotating the finger 87 out of the end operated upon; but the jaws do not open'until the'shell is to discharged, 'the "I n :springs 44 [j wa enou h for the their a ti y g I open w le the jaws are still closed, Willie the opening-of the jaws22 and 23 at arsubse uent time, probably a few seconds later, wi release the shells. The em ty aws continue to travel circularly until t ey reach the pusher-lever 1,where they are fed with further oysters successively as before.

The remaining details of the machine are as follows and are preferably iven here, as too much detail in the above escription by reference to the drawings would oiil lead to confusion. We will first describe t e detail construction and operation of a part of the gripping device not already fully described.

The arms 51 are fixed to a tube 51, sliding in the tube 50 and carrying a nut 51" to form an abutment for the spring 52, whose one end presses against the nut 51 and whose other end abuts againstthe tube 50. The bearings 50, secured to the wheel 38, ermit the tube to slide back and forth. he cam 53 produces a positive and unyielding movement of each lever-arm 58, and therefore of each tube 50; but as the oysters may be of difierent sizes it follows that for a rather larger oyster than usual a pair of jaws 20 and 21 will have to stop in their closing action sooner than for smaller oysters; but still the cam action may continue, because the arms 51 bein stopped from an inward central motion will remain, while the tube 50 will travel slightly away from the arms 5 1, which it may do by sliding in the bearings 50 and slightly compressing the s ring 52. The tube 50 therefore slides upon t e inner tube 51 as well as in the bearings 50 as soon as a rather large oyster is gripped. For certainty of action upon the smallest probable oysters this action also takes place,

although only slightly. 1

As to the details of the disk mechanism we may say that the tube 51 has at its lower end a pin fixed at the end nearest the center of the wheel 38 and having a collar 65". There is a pin 65" directly in line with the pin 65 and having a head 65 and loose in the tube51. The spring 66 is helical and surrounds both the pin 65 and the pin 65' and abuts atits o posite ends against the collar 65" and the ead 65*. When the rod 65 of the disk 64 is pressed into the tube 51 'by the action of an oyster driven by the 108 as soon as the cam action causes the finger 86 to turn up to the position shown in Fig. 1. This return of the finger to its normal position does not occur until after the jaws have gone beyond the cam-plate 124,

and the fingers remain in this fixed position ufitil they travel around a circle and come toa point 88 on cam 88. The spring 101 1s under permanent compression for operating the sto 100.

The iinger is mounted indirectly upon the su port 92, which is a sliding piece whose guide is the box 93, into whichthe support 92 fits and is retained by holding-pieces 93, fastened to the part 93, which in turn is bolted to the wheel .38.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a constantly-rotating wheel, oyster-carriers mounted upon said wheel, means overned by the motion of said wheel for hol ing said oysters in such positions that all their hinges coincide substantially with one and the same circle drawn about the center of said wheel, spinning grinding-disks located in the path of said hinges, the successive disks being nearer and nearer the center of said wheel, means for separating the shells of the oysters from each other successively, knives governed by the motion of said wheel for cutting the meats from the shells, and jaws forming a part of said carriers and gripping said oysters, and means for opening and releasing said jaws to deliver the shells after the discharge of said meats.

2. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel for carrying oysters, means for producing holes in said oysters, knives carried by said wheel, rollers carried by said knives, and stationary cams in the paths of said rollers for propelling said knives through said holes for severing the meats from the shells of said oysters.

3. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combinationof a moving element for carrying oysters, means for producing holes inisaid oysters, longitudinallymovable knives carried by said'element, rollers attached tosaid knives, cam-and-roller mechanism governed by said element for tilting said knives so that the latter terminate 'at the holes produced in the oysters, stationary cams for the rollers which are on 1 said knives for feeding the knives longitudinally into the holes in the oysters, sheathing-fingers for the knives, and means governed y said element for moving the fingers from each other for separating the shells before the said knives. are fed longitudinally, and a driver for said element.

4. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a moving element for carrying oysters, means for producing holes in the shells of said oysters, hollow fingers for pulling said shells a art to form larger holes in the shells, fiexib e knives in said fingers, rollers, cams on said element for actuating said rollers, mechanism between said fingers and said rollers for separating saidshells, other rollers carried by said knives, and cams in the paths of the last-named rollers for guid- IIO ing said knives into the holes in the oysters, the fingers acting as guides for the flexible knives, and the portions of the fingers near their ends being curved.

5. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a constantly-rotating wheel, jaws thereon, and a pusher-lever for forcing oysters into said jaws, said jaws being arranged in pairs, which are equally spaced around the whole periphery of said wheel, said lever being reciprocated and timed in a predetermined manner withrelation to said pairs of jaws to feed an oyster into the jaws every time a pair arrives at a certain point.

6. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a constantly-rotating wheel, jaws thereon, a pusher-lever for forcing oysters into said jaws and having a notch in one end whose sides are for pressing againstsaid oysters, guides on each side of said notched portion and extending on the sides of said jaws and a spring-pressed element in the jaws opposite said notch by which element an oyster is pressed outward against a side of said notch, for adjusting the oyster for the beginning of its travel with the wheel.

7. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a constantly-rotating wheel, jaws thereon, a pusher-lever for forcing oysters from a position out-of said jaws to a position in said jaws, which are arranged in pairs, a spring-pressed element at each pair of jaws, and opposite said lever for pressing upon'the oysters radially outward from the center of said wheel and a curved stop-plate 62, against which it is the purpose of the springs to push each oyster to position it accurately.

8. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a constantly-rotating wheel, jaws thereon arranged in pairs, a pusher-lever for forcing oysters into said pairs successively, guides extending from the jaws to said lever for directing said oysters in a straight line, a spring-pressed disk at each pair of jaws acting radially outward from the center of said wheel toward said lever and a curved stop-plate 62, against which it is the purpose of the spring to push each oyster to position it accurately.

9. In a machine for shucking oysters, the

combination of a rotary wheel, pairs of jaws on the peripher' thereof, a pusher-lever opposite one of t e pairs of jaws, which are equally spaced around the whole periphery of said wheel, the relative motions of the traveling aws and said lever which is reciprocating being timed in a predetermined manner, a driver for rotating said wheel and reciprocating said lever, a disk at each pair of aws and opposite said lever, a spring compressible from said disk radially inward and a curved stop-plate 62, against which it is the purpose of the springs to push each oyster to position it accurately.

holding the same at the 10. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, pairs of aws thereon, a pusher-lever opposite one pair of jaws at a time, a driver for operating said wheel and said lever, a resisting-disk opposite said lever and at the rear of said jaws, a spring behind said disk for resisting the inward motion of said disk toward the center of said wheel and a curved stop-plate 62, against which it is the purpose of the spring to push the oyster to position it accurately.

11. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a pair of jaws, a rotary wheel eriphery of said wheel, a device governed by the rotary wheel, for automaticall feed ng an oyster into said jaws and a spring and plate for adjusting oysters of various lengths, so that the end of each oyster will roject the same distance from said jaws, t e spring being carried by said wheel, and the said plate being stationary.

12. In-a machine forshucking oysters, the combination of a pair of jaws, a rotating ele ment carr 'ng said jaws, a yielding disk at the'rear 0 said jaws, a levero posite one of the aws, for pushing oysters into the' jaws,

and having a surface against which it is the purpose of the disk to push the oysters, and

14. In a machine for shucking oysters,'the I combination of a pusher-lever 1, pivoted at its lower end by a pivot 2, a frame for the machine supporting the pivot 2, and the lever having a notch 5 at its upper end for receiving an oyster, gripping-jaws 0 posite said lever, means for operating the ever-1 consisting of a constantly-rotatin gearwheel 7, a main shaft for the mac -ine to which said gear-wheel is fixed, a pinion 9 engaged with. said gear-wheel 7, a crank 10 carried by said pinion, and a connecting-rod 11 for communicating reciprocating motion from said crank to said lever, being pivoted to each, a guiding-bracket 13 reaching beyond the sides of said lever and overlapping IIC for clos' said. 'awsupon an oyster only after it has eft'sald lever.

15. In'amachine. for shucking' oysters, the combination .of a pusher-lever 1, pivoted at its lower end bya pivot 2, a frame for the machine sup orting" the pivot 2, the lever having a note at its upper end with two surface's,*one surface-being for supporting the Wei ht of an oysterand the other surface being or the oyster, a pair of grippingawsopposite said lever, means for. operating the lever,'consisting of a constantl'y rotating ear-wheel 7,-a mamshaft for the'machine edto said wheel, a pinion Q'engaging with said gear-wheel 7, a crank 10 governed by said pinion, gapconnecting-rod joining said crank to said leyer, a, guiding-bracket 13 at the sides :of said lever, a stop 62 having a surface parallel to the path of said jaws, and forming a practically continuous surface with the pushing surface of said lever, when said lever is'nearisaid jaws, adisk in said jaws, and 0 posite'said stop, and a spring for forcing sai disk "against an oyster in the jaws when open,--;s against said stop-- tion of the jaws? 1 v 16. In a machine forshucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oystor-grippers thereon, I a-"feeding device for supplying'oystersffltojsaid grippers, mechanism connect saidfele'ment and said device for operatingj't e latt rj'a driver for said element, a pusher fori ,essing against an oyster with a spring action-Whenan-oyster is bein driven into saidgrippers, means beyond: sai feeding device Ineaspr'e'd therefrom in the direction of rotation 7, said element, and lo cated opposite'thef athaof said'grippers for causing oystersin-successive grippers to have mg t e traveling motheir protruding-tip-eiidslie in one and the.

same circle, "an arrangement governed by said element forclosi {said grippers before they-move beyond said means, said oystergrippers having interior spring-pressed teeth extending therefrom for pressing upon different parts of-an oyster. a

17. Ina machine for-shucking' oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-gripp'ers thereon ,and' a'feeding device for supplying oysters tosaid grippers, said grippers consisting of }pairs ofijaws, spring teeth therein, and a us er in said awsresi ently movable to an fro along the' cent er line between the jaws.

' 18. In a machine forshucking oysters, the combination of a rotati felement, open oyster-grippers thereon, a ceding-device for supplying oysters to' said ippers, means governed bysaid element orl mainta'iningsaid ippers open for a redetermined interval o tirne afterbeing fe with oysters, a stoplate 62, springressed-disks 64, and means or performing t e positive, function of closing the jawsupon the oysters after being 0'' asto ress said oyster properly located by the above-named elements.

19. In a machine for shucking oysters, the

combination of a rotatin wheel, a pair of jaws thereon, a driver or operating said wheel, a resilient pusher between and at the rear of said jaws, a spring behind said pusher for makin it resilient in a radial direction with regar to said wheel, the two jaws being opposite each other, means for moving the jaws to and from each other while maintained parallel to each other, and springpressed teeth in two rows in each jaw pointing toward each other, each jaw being V- shaped, and" the two rows of springs on eachv jaw being fastened to the inside 0 the arms of the V. 1

20. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, a pair of jaws thereon, a driver for operating said wheel, a resilient stop between and at the rear of said jaws, a spring behind said stop for making it' resilient in a radial direction with regard to said wheel, the two jaws being opposite each other, means for moving the jaws to and from .each other while main-" j 21. In a machine for shucking'oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device foroperating the latter, a driver for'said element, a pusher for'pressing against an oyster with a springaction when an oyster is bein driven into said grippers, means beyond sai feeding device in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oystersin successive ippers to have their protruding tip ends ii e in one and the same circle, an arran ementgoverned by said element forclosmg said grippers before they move beyond said means, each of said grippers con sisting of a pair of jaws movable to and from each other, on a common center line, arms of two cranks pivoted to the respective jaws, a tube pivotally connected up with the other arms -of said cranks, a rod supporting said pusher and sliding in said tube, and a pusherspring in said tube for producing said spring action upon said pusher.

22. In a machine for shucking' oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said ippers, means governed by said element or maintaining said grippers open for a predetermined interval of time after being fed with oysters, a sta-' tionary stop opposite the grippers while they are open, and apparatus governed by said element for closing said grippers.

23. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, oystergrippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connected between said element and said feeding device for operating the same, a spring-pressed disk 64 to push the oyster outwardly, a stop beyond said feeding device for preventing said oyster from being pushed toofar by said ment, a tongue for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feeding device measured therefrom in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie" in one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, and appara tus for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means.

25. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device. for

supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device I for operating the latter, a driver for said element, a tongue for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feeding device in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie in one and the same circle, an .arrange ment governed by said'element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, and apparatus for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, said feeding device consisting of a reciprocating lever alternately approaching and receding from said grippers, always approaching said grippers to the same distance for permitting oysters of different sizes to protrude equally from the different grippers, said mechanism consisting of a rotating crank and connecting-rod, said means consisting of a stationary stop for limiting the outward throw of the oysters when actuated by said tongue, and said arrangement con sisting of a stationary cam, a roller moving in said cam, and cranks connected up between said grippers and said rollers for closing said grippers.

26. In.a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device for operating the latter, a driver for said element, a tongue for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feeding device in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie in one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, said grippers consisting each of a pair of jaws, and said arrangement consisting of a stationary cam, a roller for moving in the earn, a lever pivoted to said element, and carrying said roller on one arm thereof, a tube movable upon said element, and having a pin engaging with the other arm of said lever, and cranks pivotally connected up between said jaws and said tube, and a rod for said tongue sliding in said tube, resistingsprings being provided both for said tube and said rod.

27. In a machine for'shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device for operating the latter, a driver for said element, a tongue for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feedin device in the direction of rotation of sai element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie 1n one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond saidmeans, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, said element consisting of'a wheel, said grippers consisting of pairs of jaws arranged circularly around the center of said wheel, a sta tionary support carrying a cam with two guiding-surfaces, a roller per each gripper between said surfaces which form an endless groove, levers pivoted to said wheel to form fulcrums for the levers, and pivoted also to said rollers, and mechanisms connected up between said levers and the respective pairs of jaws for closing the jaws, said cam having ITO such a curvature at the point for closing, as to tilt said levers one at a time as the rollers travel along said cam.

28. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel,open pairs of jaws equally spaced around the periphery thereof, a reciprocating lever for furnishing oysters to said pairs of jaws, a crank-and-pin- 'ion combination connecting said wheel to said lever for reciprocating the latter, a

tongue for pressing against each oyster in said pairs of jaws, a spring for said tongue, a stationary stop beyond said lever along the periphery of said wheel, and located oppo:

' site the path of said jaws for causing oysters in successive pairs of aws to have their hinges protruding equally from said jaws, and cams and rollers governed by said Wheel and driven thereby for closing a pair of jaws While it-is opposite said stationary stop.

29, In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, pairs of jaws arranged around the periphery thereof, and

means foralternately closing and opening said jaws consisting of a stationary cam formed endless around the center of said wheel, arc-shaped around said center at that position where the jaws are to remain closed, curved inwardly toward the center from said are at that position where the jaws are to be opened and to remain open, rollers traveling around said cam, levers fulcrumed upon said wheel and connecting with the respective rollers, and mechanically connected up with the respective pairs of jaws, and retractile springs cooperating with said cams, rollers and levers tending to open said aws.

30. In a machine for shucking oysters, the

' combination of a rotating wheel, pairs of jaws arranged around the periphery thereof, and means for alternately closing and opening said jaws consisting of a stationary. cam formed endless around the' center of said wheel, arc-shaped around said center at that position where the jaws are to remain closed, curved inwardly toward the center from said are at that position where the jaws are to be opened and to remain open, rollers traveling around said cam, levers fulcrumed upon said wheel and connecting with the respective pairs of jaws, retractile s rings cooperating with said cams, rollers and levers tending to open said jaws, slides for each pair of jaws, guide-rods for said slides, arms of two cranks pivoted to therespective jaws of a pair, a tube pivotally connected up with the other arms of said cranks, bearings for'said tube attached to said wheel, and a spring acting outward radially from the center of said wheel upon said tube, said spring being in a compressed condition when said jaws are open.

31. In a'machine for shucking oysters,the

combination of a rotating wheel, open airs of jaws equally spaced around the perip ery 1 thereof, a reei rocating lever for furnishing oysters to sait pairs of jaws, a crank-andpinion combination connecting said wheel to said lever for reciprocating the latter, a pusher for ressing against each oyster in said pairs 0 jaws, a spring for said pusher, a stationary stop beyond said lever as measured from said lever along the periphery of said wheel, and located opposite the path of said jaws for causing oysters in successive equally from said jaws, cams and rollers governedby said wheel and driven thereby for closing a pair of jaws While it is opposite said stationary stop, a spinning grinding-disk nearer the center of said wheel than said stop, and additional grinding-disks successively nearer the center of'said wheel than any preceding dish.

'32. In a machine for shut-king oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said elcment and said'devicc for operating the latter, adriver for said clement, a tongue for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feeding device in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie in one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, and apparatus for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, said apparatus consisting of individually manually adjustable'grinding-disks.

i 33. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, means governed by said element for maintaining said ri pers open for a rcdetermined intervaI 0 time after beingfed with oysters, a stationary stop op )osite the grippers while they are open, an apparatus governed by said element for closing said grippers, said apparatus consisting of a stationary double cam forming a groove, as many pivots as there are grippers projecting from said element, levers pivote to the respective pivots, a roller on each lever running in said groove, and mechanism connected up between said levers and said grippers. j

a 34. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, means governed bysaid element for maintaining said ri pers 0 en for a rede terinined interva of time a ter-being ed with oysters, a stationary stop opposite the. grippers while pairs of jaws to have their hinges protruding rod they are open, and apparatus governed by said element for closing said grippers, said apparatus consisting of a stationary double cam forming a groove, as many pivots as there are grippers projecting from said element, levers pivoted to the respective pivots, a roller on each lever running in said groove, and mechanism connected up between said levers and said grippers, said mechanism consisting of cranks connecting with said grippers, holders for said cranks, and pin-andlevers pivoted to the respective pivots, a'

roller on each lever running in said groove, and mechanism connected up between said levers and said grippers, said mechanism consisting of cranks connecting with said gripers, holders for said cranks, and pin-and-slot oints between said levers and said holders,

said cam being formed endless around the center of said element, arc-shaped around said center at a certain distance therefrom for acting upon said rollers to maintain said grippers closed, curved inwardly toward the center, and then arc-shaped again at a less distance from said center to act upon said cams for maintaining said grippers open, and then curved outwardly from said center for acting upon said rollers to close said grippers.

36. In a machine forshucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element andsaid device for operating the latter, a driver for'said element, a pusher for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said grippers, means beyond said feeding device in the direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successive grippers to have their protruding hinges lie in one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, and grinding-disks for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, and an organization governed by said element for driving the disks in units of several each.

37. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to saidgrippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device for operating the latter, a driver for said element, a pusher for pressing against an oyster with a spring action when an oyster is being driven into said gri pers, means beyond sai feeding device in t 1e direction of rotation of said element, and located opposite the path of said grippers for causing oysters in successivegrippers to have their protruding pushers lie in one and the same circle, an arrangement governed by said element for closing said grippers before they move beyond said means, and disks for cutting holes in the shells at said hinges and located beyond said means, and an organization governed by said element for driving the disks in units of several each, said organization consisting of pulleys attached to said disks, other pulleys separate from said disks, and a belt passing alternately over the first and second named pulleys. i

38. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grip ers, and means governed by said element or maintaining said grippers open for a predetermined interval of time after being fed with oysters, said means consisting of a cam-and-roller device, the. cams thereof being stationary, and the rollers of said. device being individually connected with said grippers and devices for adjusting the oyster in the jaws, while the latter are still maintained open by said means. i 39. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, oystergrippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism con device for operating the same, means'for re' sisting the action of said feeding device upon an oyster when beingfed into any pair of grippers, a stop beyond said feeding device for preventing said oyster from being pushed too far by said means, and means for closing said grippers upon an oyster before passing said stop, grinding-disks beyond said stop for cutting holes in said oysters, pivoted arms supporting said disks, and screws for adjusting the positions of said arms.

40. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, oystergrippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying-oysters to said grippers, mechanism connected between said element and said feeding device for operating the same, means for resisting the action of said feeding device upon an oyster when being fed into any pair of grippers, a stop beyond said feeding device for preventing said oyster from being pushed too far by said means, and means for closing saidgrippers upon an oyster before passing said-stop, grinding-disks beyond said stop for cutting holes in said oysters, pivoted arms supporting said disks, and screws for adjusting the positions of said arms, pulleys attached to said disks, and a driving-belt-pass ing over the same in series.

41. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotatin element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a eeder for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism conmeeting said element and said device for operating thelatter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a re ator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causin the oysters therein to project the same 'stances therefrom, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells of the oysters, fingers for entering said holes for separating said shells, means being provided or se arating said fingers from each other, projecti e-blades carried by said fingers, and means for projecting said blades into said oysters for severing the'meats from the shells.

42. In a machine'for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeder for supplying oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said grippers for operating the latter to open and c ose the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causing the oysters therein to project the same distances therefrom, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells of the oysters,

and fingers for entering said holes for separating said shells.

43. In a machine for'shuclring oysters, the combination of cutters for removing the material at the hinges of oysters for destroying the hinges and forming holes through the shells, a driver for propelling said oysters along'a path, a pair of pivoted fingers, with their pivots so' disposed that the ends of the fingers can be brought to each other 'for en- 'terlng said oysters in fpairs, and means controlled by said driver r moving said fingers bodily away from each other while in said holes, for separating said shells.

44. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of cutters for removing the material at the hinges of oystersfordestroying the hinges and forming holes through the shells, a driver for propelling said oysters along a path, a air of pivoted fingers, with their pivots so isposed that the ends of the fingers can be brought to each other for entering said oysters in pairs, and means controlled by said driver for moving said fin ers bodily away from each other while in sai holes, for separating said shells, said means for each finger being in duplicate and either duplicate consisting of a toothed se nent rigid with one of said fingers, a toothe rack normally out of engagement with said segment, a single driver for all of the above-named elements,

and devices connected with said drivers and said segment for bringing the latter into engagement with said rack.

45. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of cutters for removing the ma- ,terial at the hinges of oysters for destroying the hinges and forming holes through the shells, a driver for propelling said oysters along a path, a (pair of ivoted fingers, with their pivots so ispose that the ends of the fingers can be brought to each other for entering said oysters 111 pairs, and means controlled by said driver for moving said fingers bodily away from each other while in said 'holes, for separating said shells, said means for each finger being in duplicate and either duplicate consisting of a toothed segment rigid with one of said fingers, a toother rack normally out of engagement WltlISflldsegment, a single driver for all of the abovenamed elements, and devices connected up with said driver and said segment for bringing the latter into engagement with said rack, isaid devices consistlng of a holder for said segment, a stationary cam, and a roller carried by said holder, and bearing on said cam.

46. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of cutters for removing the material at the hinges of oysters for destroying the hinges and forming holes through the shells, a driver for propelling said oysters along a path, a air of pivoted fingers, with their pivots so isposed that the ends of the fin ers can be brought to each other for entering said oysters in pairs, and means controlled by said driver for moving said fingers bodily away from each other while in said holes, for separating said shells, said means for each finger being in duplicate and either duplicate consisting of a toothed se ment rigid with one of said fingers, a toothe rack normally out of engagement with said segment, and a cam-and-roller device connected up withsaid driver both for bringing said segment into engagement with said rack and for rotating said segment by the joint action of said rack and saidcam-and-roller device.

47. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeder for supplying oysters to said grip ers, mechanism connecting said element an said device for operating the latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causing the oysters therein to project the same distance therefrom, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells of the oysters, and fingers for enand devices for successively rotating said 'fin ers to enter said holes and for moving sai fingers bodily for forcing the shells of the oysters apart.

48. In a machine forshucking oysters,the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeder for supplying oysters to said grip ers, mechanism connecting'said element an said device for operating the latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causing the oysters therein to project the same dis oyster-grippers thereon, a feeder for supply-- mg oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device for p grippers thereon, a feeder for supplying oys-' erating the latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters "in said grippers, for causin the oysters therein to project the same istances therefrom, apparatus for cutting holesin the shells of the oysters, fingers for; entering said holes for separating said shells, a pivoted toothed se inent carried by each finger, a pivoted rack or engaging with said segment, thepivots for the last two elements being on lines parallel, to each other, a movable support for the pivot of the segment, and an arrangement provided between said support and said rack for tilting said'support during a part of its movement.

50. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, oysterters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said grippers for opening and closing the latter, an automatic regulator for causing the oysters in said grippers to roject equal distances therefrom, cutters or making holes in the shells of the oysters, a pair of rotary fin ers for entering any hole in the oysters, said gers being normally out of the hole, the device for rotating each finger consisting of a pivot for the finger, movable along a straight line, teeth arranged around said pivot and rigid therewith, a rack whose teeth are in a straight row and parallel to said line, and a device governed by said element for causing the first-named teeth to roll over the second-named teeth, which latter are stationary.

51. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeder for'supplymg oysters to said grippers, mechanism connecting said element and said device for opcrating the latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for

the oysters therein to project the same. istances therefrom, apparatus for cutcausin tin holes in the shells of the oysters, blades, an projectors forpropelling said blades and guidmg the saine for severing the meats from the shells.

52. In a machine for shucking oysters, th

combination of a rotatin .element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a eeder for supplymg oysters to said grippers, mechanism conl nectmg said elementand said device for op- 'erati'ng the latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causing the oysters therein to project the i same distances therefrom, apparatus for out-- ting holes in the shells of the o ters, blades, projectors for propellingsaid'b ades and guidmg the same for severing the meats from the shells, and propellers for operating'said rojectors, consisting of cam-and-roller 'devices.

I 53. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a feeding device for supplying oysters to said 'ppers, means governed by said element or maintaining said grippers open for a p'redeterminedinterval 0 time after'heing fed with oysters, a stationary stop opposite the grippers while-they are open, and apparatus governed by said ele ment for closing said gr1ppers,'said appara-' tus consisting of a stationary double cam forming a groove, as many pivots as there are grippers projecting from said element, levers pivoted to the respective pivots, a roller on each lever running in said groove, and mechanism connected up between said levers. and

said grippers, said mechanism consistin of.

cranks connecting with said grippers, hol ers for said cranks, pin-and-slot joints between said levers and .said holders, said cam being formed endless around the center of said element, arc-shaped around said center at a certain distance therefrom for acting upon said rollers to maintain said grippers closed, curved inwardly toward the center, and then arc-shaped again at a less distance fromsaid center to act upon said cams for maintaining said grippers open, and then curved outwardly from said center for acting upon said rollers to close said grippers, a second cam with a similar contour, second rollers in said second cam, means for cutting holes in said oysters,

fingers controlled by said second rollers for entering said holes, there being a pair of fingers for each of said grip ers, a device'for. orcmg apart the shells of-t e oysters by separating each pair of fin ers from each other, pairs of blades, prope lers for driving said lades into said holes for severing the meats,

- cam for the roller,

through the hole into the oyster, peller consisting of a driver for propelling the and consisting of athird stationary cam, and rollers carried by one set of the members of said pairsof blades for being operated by said third cam, there being a similar cam and roller movement for the other set of members of the said pairs of blades.

' 54. "In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, oyster-grippers carried thereby, cutters for making holes in the oysters held by said grippers, a blade projecting into one of the holes, and being movable, in a direction for severing the meats, a rollerfcarriedby said blade, and a a bearing for the blade being provided and movable with said wheel, said cam being stationary.

55. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of oyster-grippers, cutters for making a hole in the oyster held in said grippers, a driver for moving said grippers, a blade, means for pointing said blade into sai hole, and a propeller for projecting said blade said problade laterally synchronously with said grippers, a stationary cam, and a roller for said cam mounted upon said blade, and a guide for the blade for causing it to move point first when said roller is propelled by said cam.

56. In a machine for shuckingoysters, the combination of a rotating element, open oyster-grippers thereon, a oysters to said grippers, mechanis'm connecting said element and said device fpr operatingthe latter to open and close the same at predetermined intervals, a regulator for adjusting the oysters in said grippers, for causing the oysters therein to project the same distances therefrom, apparatus for cutting holes in the shells of the oysters, fingers for entering said holes for separating the shells, blades for entering said holes, for severing the meats from the oysters, means for closing said grippers before the action of said cutting apparatus, and for opening said grippers after the discharge of the meats for delivering the-shells of the oysters.

57. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a set of. fingers for entering a hole formed in the shell of the oyster, and means'for separating the fingers from each other to pull the shells apart, and a driver for actuating said fingers, means for holding the oyster, and connections for coordinating the movements of the oyster.

58. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of flexible knives, means for cutting holes in the oysters for said knives to separate the ciently to'deliver the meats, a driver being ding the oysters, and

feeder for supplying the entrance of meats from the shells, means for separating the shells sufii-.

connections for coordinating the movements of the oysters. 59. in a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, grippers thereon for holding oysters, a feeding device for supplying said grippers with oysters,.

abrasive cutters for freeing the shells of each oyster from each other, a pair of fingers for insertion between the shells of each oyster, flexible knives for separating the meats from the shells, a driver and mechanisms connected up therewith for operating the elements, in the required order.

60. In a machine for shucking oysters, the

combination of a rotating Wheel, jaws ar--. ranged m a row thereon in pairs, and means governed by the motion of said Wheel,'for alternately opening and gradually closing the pairs of jaws, said tionary cam-plate, having two endless camsurfaces, a roller for each pair of jaws between said surfaces, a tube for each pair, bellcranks connecting said tubes to the respective jaws, and a retractile spring for each tube.

61. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a rotating wheel, jaws arranged in a row thereon in pairs, means gov erned by the motion of said wheel, forfirst opening the pairs of jaws in succession, then gradually closing the jaws in succession, and then gradually opening them again in suc cession, said means consisting of a single cam and a series of rollers therein connected up respectively with the pairs of jaws, a feeder successively opposite the pairs of jaws in their open condition, a stop beyond the feeder, opposite said jaws, and spannin about two pairsof jaws at a time, a series 0 grinding-disks beyond the stop, each one being nearer and nearer the center of the wheel,

fingers carried by said wheel, a cam-and- .roller device for operating the same at a point beyond said disks and for pulling apart the shells of the oysters, blades, rollers connected up therewith, a cam beyond said disks and in the path of said rollers for guiding them out of said path for propelling said blades into said oysters, and intermediate mechanisms connected with said wheel for actuating the various parts in the required manner and order.

62. In an oyster-shucking machine, the combination of a wheel; equidistant pairs. of gripping-jaws on its periphery; a pusher-lever; and connections moving the lever toward the wheel when a gripping-jaw comes opposite to said lever; whereby one oyster is fed to each gripping-jaw.

. 63. In a machine for shucking oysters, the combination of a traveling element, a series of jaws mounted thereon for receiving oysters while in motion, a pusher-lever for feedmeans consisting of a sta- 7 mg oysters successlvely to said aws, a yieldsubscribed our names and affixed our seals ing stop in each of said jaws for maintaining this 17th day of January, 1905.

oyster of whatever size against said 1ev. EDWARD L. TORSCH. L. s.]- ver, means for closing sald aws to rip the oysters and connections causing theiver to H PARKER approach each jaw as it comes opposite said Witnesses:

- lever. 1

. i EDW. R. SAPPINGTON, I testimony whereof wehave hereunto EDWARD H. SAPmNeToN. 

